In This Issue• Today's Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• Fast and Pray for NDP
• The Good News Corner
• Worship With Us!
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The Daily Brief - Friday, April 16, 2010
"Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice." (I Chronicles 16:10)
Today's Daily Brief
1. Volcanic ash from Iceland forces cancellation of flights, disrupts travel for thousands - Washington Post
A cloud of volcanic ash that wafted in from Iceland shut down airports across Northern Europe on Thursday, causing a ripple effect that is expected to snarl air traffic around the globe for days.
- Lord, as control of travel, businesses and plans will be taken from people, we pray they begin to see how all over the earth; volcanoes, quakes, storms, and the conditions with the weather as well as dates and events are beginning to become too much of a coincidence . Open their eyes, ears and hearts to seek You for who You are and know You desire that no man perish.
- "For the day is near, Even the day of the LORD is near; It will be a day of clouds, A time of doom for the nations." (Ez. 30:3)
[Note: to track the growing path of the ash cloud, go here.]
2. What happens if the (Second) Iceland volcano blows - USA Today
Eyjafjallajokull, the Icelandic volcano that has continued to belch lava, ash and steam since first erupting last weekend, isn't the direct problem. It's Katla, the noisier neighbor, that's the concern. If lava flowing from Eyjafjallajokull melts the glaciers that hold down the top of Katla, then Katla could blow its top, pumping gigantic amounts of ash into the atmosphere.Scientists say history has proven that whenever the Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupts, Katla always follows -- the only question is how soon.
The potential eruption of Iceland's volcano Katla would likely send the world, including the USA, into an extended deep freeze. "When Katla went off in the 1700s, the USA suffered a very cold winter," says Gary Hufford, a scientist with the Alaska Region of the National Weather Service. "To the point, the Mississippi River froze just north of New Orleans and the East Coast, especially New England, had an extremely cold winter. "Depending on a new eruption, Katla could cause some serious weather changes." Read more.
- Please intercede before the Throne of Grace, asking our Lord to rest His Hand upon Katla. May He hear our prayer, amen.
- "In wrath, remember mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2)
3. GOP Grills Obama Court Pick - Fox News
A controversial nominee for the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Goodwin Liu, apologized Friday for sending Senate Judiciary Committee members an incomplete portfolio about himself and said he'd do whatever he could to win the committee's trust.
- We thank the Lord for this answer to prayer, which was requested on our last OCAP (Monday, April 12). Continue tp "press in" in intercession, until the nomination for this unqualified candidate is entirely dismissed.
- "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)
4. Bernanke: America Facing Financial 'Armageddon' - Fox News
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told Congress on Wednesday that America is facing something approaching a debt Armageddon.
- Pray that our nation look to the only One we can TRUST as He will deliver us out of all bondage and covetousness. Lord You desire that we trust only in You.
- "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (I Tim. 6:10)
5. Obama orders hospitals to grant gay visitation rights - AFP
Obama ordered hospitals to grant visitation rights to gay and lesbians, including for non-family visitors.
- Oh Lord we know you have called us to visit the sick and afflicted, but once again, we see the wicked perverting Your Word for their own purposes. We decree that Your Word will not be counterfeited, and we ask You to forgive those who are doing so.
- "I was sick and you visited me." (Matt. 25:36)
6. Tea Party Protesters Descend on D.C. With New 'Contract From America'- Fox News
Thousands of protesters descended on the nation's Capitol for April 15 tax deadline protests as activists offered up a new "Contract From America" aimed at using the winning formula of the 1994 Republican revolution while also developing a direction for the burgeoning movement.
- We pray that all those who engaged in these protests yesterday be blessed and protected, energized and encouraged for standing strong. Also we pray that many more hearts of men and women will open up and allow Christ to set them FREE, free to the Truth that we are "One Nation Under God". We proclaim our covenant is with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and no other will we acknowledge.
Lord, we have failed You, but we know that You will not fail us, because of Your Holy Word. Thank You for showing mercy to Your remnant in these last days, and we ask You to move upon the hearts of the lost to be turned to You, while there is yet time.
- "The Lord shall establish thee a holy people unto himself, as He has sworn unto thee, if thou shall keep thy commandments of the Lord thy God and walk in his ways." (Deut. 28: 9)
7. Federal Judge Rules Day of Prayer Unconstitutional - Fox News
U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb reached the conclusion in a lawsuit the Freedom From Religion Foundation, a Madison-based group of atheists and agnostics, brought against former President George W. Bush's administration near the end of his second term.
- Please note the official statement, released yesterday by the NDP Task Force, on this matter, which we published earlier this evening. Please note, too, the call to prayer and fasting over this news, which is located elsewhere in today's Brief.
Pray for the preservation of the National Day of Prayer, for prayer is the foundation of all good government. PRAY!
- "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." (Psalm 33:12)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
- "Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as before time . . ." (2 Samuel 7:10)
1. Fears that war between Israel and Hizbollah is 'imminent' - London Telegraph
King Abdullah of Jordan has warned the US that there were fears in Lebanon that a war between Israel and Hizbollah was "imminent" amid high tensions in the region.
2. Syria Accuses Israel of Creating Pretext to Attack - VOA
Syria is accusing Israel of raising tensions in the region by claiming that Damascus is supplying long-range missiles to Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
3. Clinton: Israel must do more for peace - Ynet News
Israel must do more to pursue peace with the Palestinians and to strengthen their institutions or risk empowering militant groups such as Hamas, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday.
4. Police drill 'largest in Israel's history' - Ynet News
The major terrorism drill that brought traffic across Israel to a halt Thursday was the largest in the state's history and held crucial importance, police officials told Ynet.
Fast and Pray for NDP
A Call to Fasting and Prayer from the Director of the National Governors' Prayer Team
April 16, 2010
Friends,
I want to encourage your support of the National Day of Prayer, the entire Task Force and its leadership in Shirley Dobson. As you well know by now U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb (nominated by President Jimmy Carter on July 21, 1979) declared the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional.
Crabb wrote that her ruling shouldn't be considered a bar to any prayer days until all appeals are exhausted. How any one person could consider there ruling to have any such weight or effect on America's prayer life, or their ability to gather peaceably, strikes a tone of the frame of mind of the person who derived this legal conclusion.
This is clearly one leader that in need of prayer so that we all can all lead a more peaceful and quietlife in all Godliness and holiness.
ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow said in a statement. "It is unfortunate that this court failed to understand that a day set aside for prayer for the country represents a time-honored tradition that embraces the First Amendment, not violates it," Sekulow, who contends the decision "runs counter to well-established legal precedent," said the ACLJ plans to file a brief representing members of Congress to challenge the decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Jay is doing all that he can do for now . . . but what can we be doing? The Book of Isaiah, Chapter 58, talks about the "fast that God has chosen." God says that fasting will "loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke," and "to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?"(verse 6). He also says that "light will break forth like the dawn" and you will be able to hear God's voice when you cry to Him for help (verse 9). There are also promises of God's guidance, provision, strength and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.This and much more from the act of Fasting.
During this grave time of assault of the very fabric of which this country is made I am calling for a three day fast. I would then encourage you to follow this by a one meal a day fast until Thursday May 6th. As more information becomes available I will send it along. This year's NDP theme of "for such a time as this" is no coincidence.
We must stand strong in this battle for our freedom.
Thomas C. Walker - US Coordinator
National Governors' Prayer Team
The Good News Corner
The Vietnamese Witchdoctor Who Found Jesus
I grew up in a very strong Buddhist family in Vietnam," says Tran Dinh (Paul) Ai. "My father was a very successful Chinese medical doctor, but he was bothered by politicians who tried to extort money from him."
Ai's father vowed he would send his son to the Buddhist temple for training as a monk. At age 14 Ai arrived at the temple, but after a year of study he became disenchanted with the "hopelessness of Buddhist doctrines."
Seeking a more powerful religious experience, he journeyed to the dark side. "I went to study black magic and became a witchcraft doctor, serving 3,366 gods," Ai says. "They gave me power, but they made me bow my life to their strongholds," he says. "They also made me hate the Gospel." . . .
In 1970, as protests mounted against the Vietnam War in the U.S., American missionaries entered Ai's town in South Vietnam. "A lot of people in my town went to the crusades and met the Lord," Ai says. "Some of my black magic students came to me and said, 'Master, you must stop this crusade, otherwise we will lose all our customers in this town," he recalls. With a mix of anger and curiosity, Ai visited the crusade the following day.
He expected to find the missionaries performing "religious activities," but was surprised to find them singing songs, reading the Bible, and proclaiming a simple message of salvation. "They said, 'We don't want to bring to Vietnam a new religion, because all religions will make you more and more burdened. But Jesus promised if you bring your heavy burdens to Him, He will give you rest.'"
This message was grating to Ai, and he frantically sought some way to stymie their efforts, afraid the townspeople would no longer need his services. To his chagrin, many in his town found salvation and offered testimonies of answered prayers. . .
Suddenly, a dawning realization swept through his mind. "I realized that Buddha was a good man who was wise, but Buddha died. He never promised to save anybody or help anybody," he says.
"Then I realized Jesus Christ is different. He is not only good and wise, He rose and He's alive!" As Ai recognized the futility of his previous religious path, he surrendered to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
Watch his full testimony by CLICKING HERE.
Source: ASSIST News Service
Worship With Us!
SHALOM JERUSALEM by Paul Wilbur
